Heading into the weekend, Arsenal are top of the league having lost just four times in the Premier League so far this season.
One of those defeats came at Stamford Bridge, where this weekend’s opponents were on the receiving end of some very fortunate officiating. Diego Costa received a three-match ban after the game but it was too late to help Arsenal, who had Gabriel’s ban overturned.
It’s been a long time since that defeat back in September, but another game against Chelsea is sure to have the memories flooding back. Theo Walcott, talking to Standard Sport, has insisted that the nature of the game will have Chelsea’s players firing again after a dreadful season so far, while insisting Arsenal haven’t forgotten the injustice done to them the last time the teams met.
“It is one of those games where their big players can turn up and in the fixture before there were a lot of heated moments and that won’t be forgotten from our side, that’s for sure,” said Walcott, who has been at Arsenal 10 years this week.
“They have top-quality players, even though some of them are not playing to the standards they set last year, but in these games, no one can call it.”
The Blues have seen manager José Mourinho sacked just months after winning the Premier League last season. It’s an odd situation they find themselves in, defending champions but now 19 points from the top spot and just four points above the relegation zone.
It really underlines the competitiveness of the Premier League, and Walcott knows they will be up for Sunday’s game nonetheless.
“It is very unusual this has happened to Chelsea. It shows that everyone is competing and nobody is afraid of anyone in the League.
“They are not getting the results they want but when they come up against us, it is going to be a completely different team we face. They will be up for the challenge but we have had a good week to look at that game.”
The English forward has a good record against the west London club – in his 10 years at Arsenal he has only found the back of the net more often against Newcastle United.
Hopefully Sunday sees him wheel away in delight against Chelsea yet again.